Disposal Wells


Summary

This practice note discusses the Texas Railroad Commission’s Rule § 3.9 (16 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.9) as an example of the regulations put in place for the disposal of materials into water-bearing strata via disposal wells. Rock strata within the earth that is porous and can allow the flow of fluids and gasses through the stratum that can ultimately be drained and removed via wells. The same kind of porous strata can also be used to receive fluids and gasses that are injected into the strata, under pressure, from a well. This is done for several reasons: to permanently dispose of that fluid, to store certain fluid or gas for later retrieval, or to utilize the pressure created through injection to force a greater amount of hydrocarbons out of a nearby wellbore. This practice note will cover the rules in Texas as a model state governing various uses of disposal wells.